Complications in Rhinoplasty

Eytan DF, Wang TD.

What this paper says

A review of the most frequently encountered complications after rhinoplasty and how they are managed, noting that severe complications are uncommon but can compromise both appearance and breathing.

Overview

The authors describe rhinoplasty as technically challenging in part because of the many short and long term complications that can arise. They state severe complications are uncommon, but unforeseen ones can lead to compromised appearance and function, patient dissatisfaction and the need for revision surgery. The surgeon must be prepared to counsel patients and to identify and manage the range of possible complications.

Sections of note

Review article; the abstract reports no patient numbers, no rates and no follow up.
Both short term and long term complications are covered.
Severe complications are stated to be uncommon.
Unforeseen complications can lead to aesthetic and functional compromise.
They can also lead to patient dissatisfaction and to revision surgery.
The article reviews the most frequently encountered complications and their management approaches.
Counselling patients is presented as part of the surgeon's responsibility alongside treating complications.

What it means for a patient

Complications after rhinoplasty divide into those affecting appearance and those affecting breathing, and one can follow from the other.
Serious complications are described as uncommon, though the abstract gives no figures.
Revision surgery is listed as an outcome of complications rather than a separate event.
This is a review without rates, so it cannot indicate how likely any specific complication is.

Why this paper matters

Complication counselling is a required part of consent and a recurring theme in rhinoplasty litigation. This article assembles the common complications and their management in one reference. It provides no numerical basis for quoting risk to a patient.

Terms

Aesthetic compromise: a result that falls short in appearance.
Functional compromise: a result that impairs nasal breathing.
Revision surgery: a further operation to correct the result of previous surgery.
Short term complication: a problem arising during healing, within weeks of surgery.
Long term complication: a problem appearing months or years afterward.

Summary written by rhinoplasty.cc from the abstract, 2026-09-09; not medical advice. The authors' own abstract follows.

From the abstract

“Rhinoplasty is widely regarded as one of the more technically challenging surgeries, owing in part to the many possible short- and long-term complications that can arise. Although severe complications are uncommon, unforeseen complications can lead to esthetic and functional compromise, patient dissatisfaction, and…”

Excerpt; the full abstract is on PubMed.